Ready to take on the future

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There were not any tears to be shed as Myriah Porter, Dylan Graham and Justin Bissel celebrated Friday night with smiles and shouts of joy with diplomas from Dirigo High School in hand. See more photos on Page 1A (Times photo by Cherri Crockett)

DIXFIELD- As major thunderstorms moved through the area prior to graduation ceremonies on Friday night, Dirigo High School graduates readied themselves to say farewell to their home for the last four years and assure their parents, teachers and friends they were ready to take on whatever the future held for them.
Coral Howe expressed to her classmates with a humor all her own, “This is your life. Take advantage of everything you can.” Howe referred to her parents’ desire of wanting more for her than they had, but expressed, “I know they want me to excel for my future, not theirs. I don’t need to make big money so that I can take care of my parents when they’re old.”
Howe left her fellow graduates, stating, “We can only see the future. Grab onto it with all your might.”
The humor continued, with the class history delivered by the giggling Rebecca Dolloff and Neriha Bautista. The two reminisced of days gone by when the graduating class excelled at everything from sports to school spirit competitions. At the end, sharing, “We are leaving Dirigo as adults to continue to learn and excel.”
As the senior chorus combined efforts to harmonize Taylor Swift’s Long Live, Amelia Tacheny and Makaila Statham took turns singing solos of Regina Spektor’s The Call and Katherine McPhee’s Run for their audience.
Valedictorian, Justin Mackin, noted, “High school was an instrument in shaping who we are. There is a sense of fear and excitement of what lies before us. We are not to fear the future, but shape it. “
With an address to parents delivered by Colleen Merrill and Jason Haynes, the audience was laughing and forgot for a few moments that their children were at a milestone in their lives. Being reminded of their toddler years trying to fly, their middle school years when the tears came for no apparent reason and their high school years, when things were most confusing.
Haynes noted, “We couldn’t have done any of this without our parents. You are important to us.”
In keeping with tradition, the class review displayed each graduate in their younger years, followed by their most recent senior photo and many memories of their shared experiences with their classmates through sporting events, class trips or those tender moments shared with family.
As if trying to prepare their families for the next step, the class review was followed by the presentation of diplomas.
With their class motto hanging overhead for added confidence, “We did not come here to fear the future, we came here to shape it.” The graduating class of 58 took one last walk to the Dirigo High School podium to receive their right of passage to the outside world and all that lies ahead.

Addressing the graduates for the final time, Principal Poulin, shared, "We got here at the same time. Four years ago there were a lot of nerves during orientation, fears of being stuffed in a locker, and those were just my worries. It's been an honor to be your principal. I'm proud to have spent the last four years with you. This has been the best professional decision I've ever made. Good luck to you all."